~by Joseph Beaudet, Scranton Journal intern
The Jefferson municipal pool was opened to the public on Saturday, June 13, having been opened with restrictions for the week prior.
The opening of the pool to the public comes after Governor Reynolds’s public health press conference on Wednesday, June 10. The previous restrictions saw public pools opened for lap swimming and private swim lessons only.
The Jefferson pool was opened exclusively for those purposes on June 6, but will now be open to the public with more hours. The pool is open for adult lap swim from 11:30 am to 1 pm, open swim from 1-5:30 pm, and a family swim from 5:30-6:30 pm, during which only people in the same household will be allowed to swim.
Jefferson Parks and Recreation director Denny Hammen said social distancing will be encouraged and “on the outside of the pool [there are] six-foot distances marked off, particularly where there would be lines for the diving board or lines for the slide.”
Poolside chairs will also be separated by 6 feet, Hammen says. There are 10-minute breaks each hour for the lifeguards, and during that break, they “will be disinfecting the high touch areas, such as railings and seating.”
